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What Alvin Kamara’s new role will look like in 2020

By Sean Nief

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Plenty of New Orleans Saints fans were happy to see Alvin Kamara finding his way into the end zone again in the matchup against the Buccaneers.

Alvin Kamara was extremely limited in terms of rushing yardage with only 16 yards on 12 attempts, but the newly-paid back ended the day with a touchdown in the air and on the ground.

Those two touchdowns alone already put Kamara at a quarter of last year’s total but some are speculating about his limited usage and yardage.

It came to some people’s surprise that Latavius Murray was the game’s leading rusher in both attempts and yardage, finishing with 48 yards on the ground.

Earlier in the week, head coach Sean Payton admitted that the team’s plan was to split carries between the two backs, but will this continue throughout the rest of the season? Could this be Kamara’s lowest rushing season since he entered the league?

The answer may lie in who the opponent is that week.

Week 1 was a showcase for the team that boasted the best rush defense in the NFL last season, but the team’s next opponent, the Las Vegas Raiders, is more middle-of-the-pack when it comes to stopping the run.

Both Kamara and Murray should expect to rack up more yards on the ground in week 2. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Murray get more carries than Kamara for the remainder of the season.

Kamara is much more of a skilled player than Murray ever has been.

His elusiveness, good hands and smart plays make him a threat to score and pick up big yards, but he is not an every-down back. Murray thrives running between the tackles and running over defenders.

After the team penned Kamara to a big extension they likely felt more comfortable having him as a scoring threat rather than putting his body on the line for first downplays.

Regardless of where he is put into the offense, Kamara is expected to perform and be the electrifying playmaker that he has been in his first three seasons.

Murray may take the majority of the rushing attempts for the remainder of the season but Kamara’s versatility and ability to catch will ensure he stays involved.

Next. 5 winners and 2 losers from dominant Week 1 victory. dark

As long as he’s healthy and scoring, the Saints and their fans will stay happy.

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